Belfry hosts East Ridge for homecoming

GOODY, Ky. – It will be homecoming tonight for Belfry High School as they play host to East Ridge at CAM Stadium.

The Pirates, ranked No. 4 in Class 3A in the Bluegrass State, come into the game with a record of 4-1 after the midway point in the regular season.

Belfry is averaging 44 points per game and rolling up over 400 rushing yards per game.

Coach Philip Haywood knows his team has only really been tested once this season, the 40-20 loss to Lexington Henry Clay. But, he says regardless of the opponent, his squad can work each game to get better and make improvements.

“You look at our scores and it looks like we played pretty good, but we can still look at the film and see where we missed a block here – or went the wrong way on a play there,” head coach Philip Haywood said. “The only way you get better, you have to keep running the different forms of your offense over and over.”

“We want to get comfortable running the offense, so when we play somebody good, then we’ll be ready,” Haywood said. “But, you need repetitions to do that.”

East Ridge comes into the game with a record of 1-4, with their only victory being over Phelps. The Warriors defense has had a tough road this season and is giving up an average of 36 points per game.

“They’re not as strong as they have been other years, but I think they may be a little better this year,” Haywood said of this week’s opponent. “They played Pike Central a pretty good game the other night. “

“We need to be focused on ourselves and not be too concerned about the other team,” Haywood added. “So this week in practice we need to be focused. Last week our kids were excited about playing.”

“What we had to do this week is go out to practice and get better at the little things,” Haywood said. “Look at what we didn’t do well last Friday night and focus on certain aspects of our game. We can work on offense, defense, special teams and individual weaknesses that we have and work on those.”

“We try to get a little better each Friday and then carry that forward, because we will have some good match-ups as the season progresses,” Haywood concluded.

Belfry will start junior Sani Warren at quarterback, along with junior Justin Johnson and Trinity Carr in the backfield. Senior Josh Robinson and sophomore Austin Hatfield should also see action. If things go the way they have, look for a lot of younger players to get some varsity action again in the second half.

Senior tight end Tony Messer, along with senior split end Eli Huddle and junior wide-out Cameron Johnson could be on the receiving end of Warren’s passes, if Belfry decides to throw the football.